[redko]

GAPA GAMMA MOD SETTINGS

Hi. For those who was asking my Gapa Gamma, here they are:

Name=redko photowork 2
Profile_Modifiers=0
Profile_Key=0
Profile_Red_Gamma=160
Profile_Red_Brightness=-13
Profile_Red_Contrast=160
Profile_Green_Gamma=140
Profile_Green_Brightness=-3
Profile_Green_Contrast=154
Profile_Blue_Gamma=150
Profile_Blue_Brightness=-5
Profile_Blue_Contrast=122


So have an Idea of what it produce, take a look at Avala's post for Bengali maps here :

viewtopic.php?t=20474

Wainting for feedback :wink:

Whitecat, gona test this new version soon as possible. :lol:

Could you be able to make a version for Guadalcanal map ?

[Skunkmeister]

Looks much more natural WC. Looks great!

[Juri_JS]

Great work WhiteCat! The new version looks fantastic.
I hope you will also retexture some of the other Pacific maps.

[WhiteCat]

Thanks very much all!!

[RealDarko]

Reall like the new version! Any chance of an updated B29 alley map?

[WhiteCat]

Mmm I have to take a look, I haven't tested that map yet because I don't like long missions, maybe it's not straightforward because being different terrains (Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Kyushu)...

Besides, it's a modded map so first we should ask Delvpier's permission first.

[redko]

Hi Whitecate. How have you been?

Good job, thanks for efforts.

Inspecting your new textured map I noticed this for the ground agriculture texture:



Then checking the tga files I found that file called "whc lowland" which the best in the right side of the pic has 1024 as resolution, instead of what the files named "whc agriculture jp" has 512 as resolution. This explains the poor quality of the image in the left side and the global rendering of the map.

Could it be possible to find a better texture piece for that, it would be better and more in accord with the great job you did :wink: ?

See you

[WhiteCat]

Thanks for the feedback, Redko!

Currently I'm thinking in redoing all, I'm learning new tricks this days and I'm almost sure I'll fix that. Anyway, the poor resolution on the left is mainly because another thing: I did on purpose those textures with a poor contrast, because if I left them with high contrast, when you fly high over the map (and it's very likely you do, because is Japan, B29's raids, etc ) the agriculture pattern shows like a chess board. That's why initially I had left Japan without almost any agriculture. But you guys convinced me, we have only to find the way to do it right.

It's quite hard to balance a map to look good from high altitude and low altitude, but I think I'm on the right track, still working on it, I've learned today a few interesting things I want to test.

[redko]

Ok ok so it's on the curse :wink: . Don't feel urged

No problem Whitecat. Of course it must not be easy to "think" hight altitude AND low altitude in the same time, and get a good result in both aspects. It needs time, patience, go step by step...

A question, where do you pic the textures? Is it google earth capture and then reworked by photoshop or original creations?

The good point of your texture since the first versions is the good level of saturation, which fit with photorealism pretty well. I downloaded some other moded maps (Avala's, Italy, Crete...) but in general all the textures are too saturated and since I reworked it by photoshop with less saturation, and playing with levels of colour and contrast I'm getting good results. I'm thinking to post them for download. I'm photographer so i'm more sensitive to the way of colours works together.

To tell you the truth...i wondering to rework all texture in order to find a way, with Gapa mode, to reach what you saw on my pics with photoshop processing. I'm still not sure that i will have the same result, BUT :wink: i hope to be really close to that.

Take a look at these pics I made for Avala's Bengali map, that's what I would like to reach.....utopic ? :lol:

viewtopic.php?t=20474&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15


So go on with good work, i'm sure you will find some new good tricks.

[redko]

for fun :wink: !

[HGuderian]

The third one is amazin'!

EDIT
I'll try them immediatly...Greets

[redko]

Thanks HGuderian :o

This one is edited of course. The day we will all have this in the game we will all be in the nirvana...

But orther pics aren't so reworked. Just Gapa mode, here my NEW settings:

Name=redko photowork 1
Profile_Modifiers=0
Profile_Key=0
Profile_Red_Gamma=150
Profile_Red_Brightness=-7
Profile_Red_Contrast=160
Profile_Green_Gamma=170
Profile_Green_Brightness=-10
Profile_Green_Contrast=164
Profile_Blue_Gamma=180
Profile_Blue_Brightness=-10
Profile_Blue_Contrast=138


In my computer the result is a little more natural and photorealistic because i puted down (-5 or -10%) colour saturation of Whitecat 's default textures. Combined with Gapa mode the result is fine.

:wink:

[WhiteCat]

Thanks Redko! I think I'll rest a little bit of Il2 these days now, I have been like 2 days very busy with it.

Regarding saturation, other maps, etc, I like very much other maps around, everybody has his personal vision. This is a simulation game, very good but only a simulation. For example I played a little bit with Gapa but I didn't like the results, somehow, so I returned to the standard setup. I've change already my maps several times and don't feel still happy about them. Regarding Kyushu for example, I don't like the last version still, when you fly at 8000 meters you cannot stop to think: 'look at these rivers and this continuous beaches.. this is the old IL2'

Anyway, before changing massively textures, one thing I've learned these days is that you should get a group of textures you like and you feel they stick together and then change the 'Landlight.mat' settings. Search for Landlight in the AAA forum.

[redko]

Hi Whitecat.

I agree. All this must remain a pleasure, it's for fun.
To perfectionnist people are always despointed by their work, it's important to take distance to evaluate things at their right level.

Don't be too unfair with your work, things come step by step, and fun must remain :wink: .

Take care man!

[WhiteCat]

Thanks Redko!

I only wanted to add something, to be fair: Crete is a MASTERPIECE.... really Viking is my hero in mapmodding, I've been reviewing again Crete now, and definitely it is in the top five. Besides Crete is a new map done from 0, I only retexture maps.

One thing that Viking uses extensively is the Bumps.... they make the map look very different from noon to afternoon. Try to fly at 12 PM and then at 16 PM. Personally I don't use them, mostly because a matter of personal taste. But I don't know.... really I don't think Crete is cartoonish at all. I would point you some maps much more cartoonish.

I know the look you want to achieve, Redko, it's pretty cool, but one question I put you: really you think it's the way that terrain looked from a WWII pilot point of view, or it's the way the terrain looked in the vintage color films of WWII? Hard question, eh? for one side, it's good to arrive to real look, from other side it's cool to have a WWII vintage movie look.

Another hard thing to achieve, in terms of color, it's to get the right color near the terrain (much more saturated) and the less saturated color in the distance due to atmosphere. In my opinion we should arrive to a solution in which the color near is real, pretty good saturated, and then IL2 engine takes the work to do it less saturated in the distance.